LONDON -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that Mesut Ozil has a point to prove to his critics after another round of criticism for his performances in recent days.
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes is among those who has questioned the efforts of Arsenal's 42.5 million pound signing, with World Cup winner Ozil perceived to be struggling to live up to his billing since his high-profile arrival at Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2013.
Scholes wrote in the Independent: "Since he has been there you cannot doubt his quality but at times he looks like he is going through the motions, however much ground he covers.
"He needs a leader around him to get him going. At Real Madrid he had a chance of winning league titles. At Arsenal that is not on the cards."
Yet Wenger has defended his playmaker, after insisting his influence on the team is not fully appreciated. "He has a point to prove and he knows that," said Wenger of Ozil.
"We are all in a job where in every single game we have to prove a point. I believe that he has the quality. He puts a lot of effort in to help a team. He works much harder than his style shows.
"You can be cheated [deceived] a little but by his style of play. He is fluent, supple and looks like he doesn't put the effort in, but he does. I knew he had good physical potential, but I didn't realise how good. He has a huge physical potential."
When asked about the suggestion from Scholes that Ozil "took the easy option joining Arsenal," Wenger said: "I believe that this is a wrong statement [from Scholes]. Ozil works very hard and he is a great player. A player like Paul Scholes would have loved to play with Mesut Ozil."
Wenger commented on the form of Danny Welbeck ahead of the striker's return to his former club Manchester United in Monday's FA Cup quarterfinal, with the Arsenal boss insisting the forward is central to his plans despite the strong competition he faces to get a place in the side.
"Danny Welbeck is very important to us," confirmed Wenger. "He played many, many games since the start of the season. His [best] position is one of the three up front; central, wide, left right, he can play anywhere.
"If you check the statistics, it is a wrong statement [to say he does not play enough] as he is one of the player who plays the most games for us. You have moments in the season where some players play a bit less. Not every single player can play every game at the start of the season.
"Danny Welbeck is an exceptional football player and he has a great future here. I am very, very happy that I bought him."